Montgomery County Civic Federation Delegate's Meeting
Monday, September 13th, 7:45
Meeting Minutes
by Richard Zierdt, Recording Secretary
MCCF President Dan Wilhelm calls the meeting to order at 7:45 pm.
Minutes are initially taken by Arnie Gordon.
Announcements: Peggy Dennis: "Yes on C" signs and info sheets are available. Deborah Vollmer: Voting Electronic at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, October 3, 10:15 am and 12 noon with movie, "Invisible Ballots". Mark Adelman: Board of Education Forum on Thursday, Red Brick Courthouse. Jim Humphrey: County Council Town Hall Meeting, Wednesday, September 29, 7:30 PM on Montgomery Mall expansion. Jim Snee: Muncaster Road closing for 9 months.
MCCF secretary arrives approximately 8:00 pm. Minutes of June 14, 2004 are accepted as amended as follows: Jack Murphy helped present the Gazette Award. He did not receive it.
Community Hero Award: Montgomery County Victims Advisory Board. Naja Kabile accepts the award. Volunteers manage the crisis line 24x7, about 145 serious calls, many more are just informational.
Housing Bills. Jim Humphrey makes a series of motions involving housing and MPDUs.
- Support Bill 27-03 which would end the option for developers to buyout of building the required MPDUs in their projects. Motion to support bill 27-03 passes 25-0-2.
- Support most of bill 25-04, which reflects the recommendations by Council staff. Supporters feel that MPDUs are going to be particularly needed as build-out in the County occurs. Motion to support bill 25-04 passes 24-0-7.
- Oppose Bill 24-04. Oppose because it does not include enough of recommendations made by council staff. It does not require more MPDUs than are currently required by law. Motion to oppose Bill 24-04 passes 21-2-5.
- MPDUs in large, rural-lot zones. Motion to oppose ZTA 03-09 passes 23-0-6.
- Oppose ZTA 04-11. Would reduce the percentage of required green space from 45% to 20%. Motion to oppose ZTA 04-11 passes 28-1-2.
- Oppose ZTA 04-12. Would reduce open and public amenity space requirements. Motion to oppose ZTA 04-12 passes 29-2-0.
- Oppose ZTA 04-13. Would allow developers to build CBD, RMX, and Planned Development to build to maximum height allowed regardless of master plan recommendations. Motion to oppose ZTA 04-13 passes 29-0-1.
- Oppose ZTA 04-14. Would increase the maximum allowable percentage of attached units to 100% (from 25% or 50%) in R-90 through R-200 zones. Motion to oppose ZTA 04-14 passes 28-0-2.
- Oppose Subdivision Regulation Amendment 04-01. Would eliminate the requirement that the Planning Board find a project's preliminary plan in conformance with the applicable master plan. Motion to oppose OSRA 04-01 passes 30-0-0.
Accessory Apartments. Move to oppose ZTA 04-10, which would remove the current Board of Appeals process in exchange for requirements that are believed to be too subjective. Jim moves approval of the five recommendations of the housing committee listed in italics on page 5. Motion to oppose bill ZTA 04-10 passes 23-1-4.
MCCF president moves acceptance of his recommendations of appointed officials, Standing Committees, and Special Committees. Seconded. Passes unanimously.
Budget. Luella Mast distributes two handouts: a treasurer's report ending June 30, 2004, and a revised proposed budget for 2004-05. Passes 21-0-1.
Luella Mast. Announces League of Women Voters Brown bag dinner Mon., September 27.
Bylaws Changes. Peggy Dennis on behalf of the Bylaws Committee. Proposed changes were published in the September, 2004 Newsletter, page 7. Establishment of Public Safety standing committee is recommended. Passes 18-0-5. Discussion ensues as to the wording of its duties listed under "Duties of Standing Committees." An amendment passes to delete the words "but not limited to" and another amendment to delete "whatever other areas the Committee identifies as pertinent" passes 15-4-0. Final motion to amend wording then passes unanimously.
Peggy moves the recommendations of the Bylaws Committee regarding the Awards Committee. Some feel that the bylaws are too specific and that dates should be flexible and left up to the officers; others feel specificity gives the organization guidance. Motion passes 8-7-3, with the president voting yea. Wording on Responsibilities of the Awards Committee: Passes 13-6-3.
Peggy describes the idea of moving the Annual Reception for Public Officials from December to May and combining it with Annual Awards presentation. Cary Lamari moves to keep the current system for the reception of elected officials. Motion fails 4-13-0.
Proposals dealing with WSSC. Chuck Lapinski. Chuck will write a letter to be reviewed by the MCCF ExComm. Dick Kauffunger moves to authorize the ExComm to make recommendations to our legislators related to WSSC commission, including the rules that prevent Prince Georges County Council from dismissing its commissioners. Passes 13-0-4.
Adjournment. Meeting is adjourned at 10:20 pm.
This Page Last Edited: October 3, 2004 .